looking at 50 mm lenses -- please help a noob out =)

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Archive 2009 · looking at 50 mm lenses -- please help a noob out =)

eddiejclayton
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p.2 #1 · looking at 50 mm lenses -- please help a noob out =)

Another vote for the Canon 50/1.8 it's an extremely sharp lens and is inexpensive! Would give you an idea as to how you feel about 50mm on a crop body. I love my 50/1.8 and I am this close (*holds fingers close together*) to pulling the trigger on the Sigma 50/1.4

Nov 14, 2009 at 10:32 PM

SloPhoto
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p.2 #2 · looking at 50 mm lenses -- please help a noob out =)

Tokina 35mm macro, look into it. great lens. It is my walk around lens.

For a starter lens, it is hard to scoff at the nifty fifty, but if you start to want a macro the 60mm > the 50mm macros.

If you want to spend the $ and are willing to deal with a few bad copies, the siggy 50mm is nice (I have already returned 1 sample myself). I never was happy with the canon 50mm 1.4.

Nov 14, 2009 at 10:49 PM

DonM2
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p.2 #3 · looking at 50 mm lenses -- please help a noob out =)

hokuba --

Listen to the above posters (and me) about the Canon EF 50 f/1.8.

Even in these tough economic times and pricey photo gear, there is no greater 'bang for the buck' on DSLR glass than the Canon 50 f/1.8. Not only is it 'faster' than most dedicated macro glass, it focuses down to about 1.5 feet. This already makes it something akin to macro on a 'crop' body like your 40D as it only uses the center 'sweet spot' of the glass.

I have a copy of this lens that I use on both 1.6 and FF Canon cams in shooting conditions from 'available darkness interiors' to very acceptable small-product shots.

If you get a copy of the EF 50 f/1.8 I can almost guarantee you'll never part with it unless you need to hock something for a couple days of groceries!

--- Don M

Nov 14, 2009 at 11:52 PM

kahren
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p.2 #4 · looking at 50 mm lenses -- please help a noob out =)

if i was starting out with a crop body i would get a 35mm f2.0 first, it would be about the same as a 50mm on a 35mm camera which is considered to be the normal prime

Nov 15, 2009 at 12:06 AM

MrAdventure
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p.2 #5 · looking at 50 mm lenses -- please help a noob out =)

nifty-fifty rocks for $80. AF is loud and buzzy...don't use for fast action. WINS for price, durability and IQ. Not going to be considered a macro at it's MFD but add some toobz and your in the zone.

Nov 15, 2009 at 12:18 AM

abam
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p.2 #6 · looking at 50 mm lenses -- please help a noob out =)

"...60 macro is a good lens, but if you ever go full frame, you have to toss it..."

toss it? if i may be so bold, that's just scaremongering. canon keeps pumping out 1.6 cameras, and there is a very healthy market for used EF-S lenses.

cheers

Nov 15, 2009 at 12:38 AM

mh2000
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p.2 #7 · looking at 50 mm lenses -- please help a noob out =)

for what most people shoot with a short macro lens you don't need a lifesize converter. If you are only interested in 1:1 you might as well just put tubes on something and position your camera for 1:1 shooting. the benefit of a macro lens is that you can focus on anything, but if all you shoot is 1:1 this is not a benefit. The 50CM is a great short macro lens and very versatile. I don't understand saying something doesn't shine because it doesn't do 1:1.

Jos Tesseract wrote:
For what its worth, the 50mm macro is one that can be skipped on because it only shines as a macro if you get the life size converter. At the end of the day, 50mm macro + life size converter = 100mm 2.8 in cost

The 50mm 1.8 is a great starter lens. You can easily reverse it for macro-shooting too. However, that requires the stop-down/DOF preview trick, which is a pain to do on crop bodies.

Nov 15, 2009 at 03:38 AM

reno.peterson
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p.2 #8 · looking at 50 mm lenses -- please help a noob out =)

abam wrote:
"...60 macro is a good lens, but if you ever go full frame, you have to toss it..." (What, What, What? In the voice of Kyle Brozlofski's mom from South Park)

toss it? if i may be so bold, that's just scaremongering. Canon keeps pumping out 1.6 cameras, and there is a very healthy market for used EF-s lenses.

cheers

I read this also, and have to kind of chuckle and balk at the "you have to toss it..." recommendation. I've never just personally "tossed" any lens, EF-s, Manual Focus FD or any other lens. If you decide to upgrade to full frame digital, you won't be able to use it there, and may have the extra step in selling it to acquire new equipment. I also know MANY people who keep their cropper bodies, so this lens would still be able to ge used. I didn't get rid of the 1.6x when I got my 5D, and at times wish I would have kept my EF-s 10-22 and EF-s 60 Macro, because i still had a 30D, and eventually let that go to make room for the 40D.

There are many good suggestions here, and the 50mm f/1.8 is very nice to shoot with, for build quality if you can spare a few extra dollars, look for a Mk I with the metal mount and the distance scale. On the Mk II, I found the focusing ring to be annoyingly close to the front of the lens. I'd still go the EF-s 60mm with what I've seen one do because of it's versatility.

Nov 15, 2009 at 03:58 AM

Lars Johnsson
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p.2 #9 · looking at 50 mm lenses -- please help a noob out =)

The Sigma 50/2,8 is a really nice lens. I prefer that one to most of the Canon lenses in the lower price range. It's very sharp and good for macro shooting

Nov 15, 2009 at 07:56 AM

philber
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p.2 #10 · looking at 50 mm lenses -- please help a noob out =)

I wouldn't touch the Sig 50 f:1.4. Just too many stories of bad copies not focusing properly. Regarding macro, if you have never done any, it is not as easy as it looks. Especially with some of the wonderful stuff posted here as a yardstick. You might be well served to start with 50 f:1.8, where you can't go much wrong. Then, if you want to trade up to a better lens, as you do MF, go to the alt section, where you will see lots of choice: Zeiss, Leica, Zuiko, Nikon, Oly, all on Canon. Yummie, all those possibilities...
If you want to dive right in, get the wonderful (used) Contax/Zeiss 60mm macro planar f:2.8. with an adapter for Canon. Tremendous portrait and macro ability, plus all the other Zeiss goodies; YMMV

Nov 15, 2009 at 08:15 AM

hokuba
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p.2 #11 · looking at 50 mm lenses -- please help a noob out =)

thanks all!

I've gone ahead and purchased the "nifty fifty" for now, so I'll have something to play with right away without feeling too guilty about how much money I've spent...

then who knows, maybe I'll get the 60mm for myself as a Christmas present...hehehe

Nov 15, 2009 at 06:54 PM

seanbolton
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p.2 #12 · looking at 50 mm lenses -- please help a noob out =)

50mm 1.4, sharp, compact, decent image quality even at 1.4.

Add some extension tubes to dabble in macro work.

Sean

Nov 15, 2009 at 07:27 PM

Grenache
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p.2 #13 · looking at 50 mm lenses -- please help a noob out =)

reno.peterson wrote:
abam wrote:
"...60 macro is a good lens, but if you ever go full frame, you have to toss it..." (What, What, What? In the voice of Kyle Brozlofski's mom from South Park)

toss it? if i may be so bold, that's just scaremongering. Canon keeps pumping out 1.6 cameras, and there is a very healthy market for used EF-s lenses.

cheers

I read this also, and have to kind of chuckle and balk at the "you have to toss it..." recommendation. I've never just personally "tossed" any lens, EF-s, Manual Focus FD or any other lens.

You guys need to get over yourselves. "Tossed" did not mean dumpster. Resale value on most EF-S lenses is lousy. Sinking money into them IF the desire is ever to go full frame is likely good for the global economy but lousy for one's own.

Nov 18, 2009 at 01:47 AM

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